patch cord

or patchcord

noun

, Telephony, Electronics.

1. a short cord with a plug at each end, or a plug at one end and a pair of clips at the other, used for temporarily connecting two pieces of equipment or signal paths.

Word History and Origins

Origin of patch cord¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

In 1979, Tascam’s Portastudio 144 arrived on the market, allowing anybody with a microphone and a patch cord to record with multiple tracks.

From Washington Post